Utahns Asked for Input on Essential Health Benefits

Utahns on individual or small business health plans have a chance to weigh in on the conditions and services they think should be covered by insurance. The Utah Health System Reform Task Force will be taking public comment Tuesday afternoon on its Essential Health Benefit Package. The federal Affordable Care Act requires that Utah choose among 10 different packages that will determine the basic services insurance plans must cover.

Representative James Dunnigan is co-chair of the Utah Health System Reform Task Force. He doesn’t expect the public to know the details of the 10 Essential Health Benefit Packages the state must choose from, but he does want public input.

“What I would hope for is people say OK, we would like acupuncture to be covered, or we would like divorce counseling covered under mental health," said Dunnigan, "What we’re looking for is the types of conditions they would like to see covered by their health insurance plan.”

The 10 packages are based on current federal, state, commercial, and HMO insurance plans already offered in Utah. They do not determine the cost of the services or who will pay for them. The Task Force must make its recommendation by fall of this year. The insurance commissioner will make the final decision, and - if all goes as planned - it will be implemented in January 2014.